IE8 Losing Popularity Contest in EU Browser Ballot

Good to see that Opera is getting exposure -- I wouldn't have said that 6 months ago when it seemed to crash daily but v10.10 is as reliable as Firefox and way quicker.

The EU love to dictate don't they?

Microsoft love to dictate don't they ?

how is showing people a choice a dictation?

No, Microsoft doesn't 'dictate' as the os is pretty much open for anything to be installed. Windows Media player, replace with any number of media players and the list goes on.

The Eu DOES like to dictate

Though most people in the UK don't vote (just over a third in 2009), the EU is a democracy, not a dictatorship, please don't let preconceptions cloud judgment.

MS relies on people being lazy and not well informed so that IE remains a strong contender. I dont blame them, I'd do the same in their shoes.

However, actually stick a choice in front of people and chances are a significant number will go "oh really, I didnt know!" and choose something different.

Nothing wrong with the EU not bending over to unelected corporations wishes like some other Govts we could mention. Thats more of a democracy in my opinion.

Hmm it might not be perfect but it is a democracy - not a dictatorship. It seems to me that is it OK for democratic governments to 'dictate' rules in the interests of their people. It seems to me that is what the EU were doing this time.

Well done to Opera for bringing the case against Microsoft. I am glad their browser is getting more publicity.

I love how folks can use the term 'dictate' when a ballot box is what is being 'pushed' at them.

altho its good to show people better browsers, its still silly forcing ms to promote their competition...

This is a great move from the EU. Showing their power can be used for more useful things than just telling us what shapes vegetables should be! I say they have done a service to technology. Thank you EU.

it shudnt be ms's responsibility to promote other browsers tho, u can still use other browsers. Other os's arent forced to do this, and i just think the EU were unreasonable to force this upon them and that it shud be the users responsibility to use other browsers if they wish, tho we got the full version on w7 cheaper on preorder in which i sold one so it worked ok for me ^_^. But thats still my opinion.

This is for the better for the end user (yeah i get that), but it's still unfair against Microsoft. Apple and the Linux community doesn't face the same demands, and BMW don't have to give their customers choice in tires. What EU is doing now is forcing MS to advertise for other softwarecompanies for free.

That Microsoft allows installment of other browsers (and programs in general) and uninstallment of IE should be enough.

I'm amazed how many people still don't understand why this is happening, and using the same hackneyed disproven arguments like "apple don't have to do this, it's unfair".

Last time i had the need to install Ubuntu it came bundled with firefox as a default browser, that's the same FF that is in the gang bitching because Windows comes bundled with IE, Hypocritical or what??
These idiots sitting in brussels getting paid to stick their oar into this sort of non issue are all every man and woman un elected so you can throw the democratic argument out of the window for a start. Dictating what they see fit to pass as best is exactly what they are doing.
The day kids are not going hungry and sleeping on the streets and people are not being discriminated against and terrorized by others then they can start to worry about this type of stuff but oh wait they cant make any money out of fixing poverty and neglect can they, no big corporate machine to land a hefty fine on is there.

Mactronix

It's not hypocritical, mactronix, since Ubuntu isn't the dominating OS with over 90% share, or has a history of making Firefox impossible to remove from Ubuntu and making it the default browser every time the OS updates.

Also, the European Commision for Competition is a legislitive body resonsible for decisions regarding - guess what - corporate competition, monopolies, mergers and aquisitions, that kind of thing.

Needless to say they ond have any sort of power or influence over things like poverty, homelessness, child neglect, etc.

Sorry should have been clearer im not specifically leveling this at the ECC arm of the EU. That would be like having a go at police or parking attendants, the little people who are just as bad in their own way but they are following guidelines and doing a job as set out, same as the ECC are. Im talking more about the decision makers who decided that we actually need such a body in the first place when there is so much nore wrong with the world that these resources would in my eyes at least be better put to work fixing rather than this kind of thing.
And to try and claim that the numbers make any differance to being bundled with an OS or not is just blinkered. Allowing yourself to be the default client on another OS while claiming its wrong for others to do likewise is hypocrytical what ever way you want to view it.

Mactronix

There's nothing unique about the EU action on Microsoft.

US governments have during the past 100 years used anti-trust legislation to fight the rail barons, Standard Oil, Bell telephone, IBM -- and would have taken on Microsoft more forcefully had not Bush been elected President.

The same EU a few people are ranting against has also begun to tackle the cellphone companies' ludicrous and larcenous "roaming charges" if you dare to cross a border within what is supposed to be a unified european market.

As for it being unfair that MS has to mention its rivals -- the BBC publishes print magazines (programme guide and car mag) and when it advertises those on the BBC tv it is forced to state "other car magazines/programme guides are available". This is fair to print-only publishers, given the BBC's powerful position as a broadcaster.

The differance for me is that the president is the elected head of America and the senate ? (im in the uk so may get some terminology wrong ) pass rulings based on whats good for the country,after democratic process has taken place in what would to me be the house of commons,
The EU Eurocrats dont amswer to anyone there is no central house where all sides are heard they just set up bodies or commisions for what ever they decide they want rule over. To my knowledge the vast majority of these people are unelected and it seems very much like a one of the boys/girls system is in place for who gets the jobs.

Quite a few years ago now i worked for a company who's main business was making dustbin liners, they used to buy in bin liners for use in the bins from a different company. When i asked why i was told that they were actually not allowed to use their own bags as yes you guessed it the EU said it was unfair as it denied other companies the opertunity to tender for the supply.
Obviously it didnt make sense and cost more but it was seen as better that than face the possability of being fined by the EU.
No im not kidding

Mactronix

Well, I think a lot of people share your scepticism about the benefits to the UK of EU membership. Clearly many are deeply alienated by the changes to our our society resulting from, for example, the mobility of labour.

Presumably why so few bother to vote in the European elections.

But action to halt the Microsoft juggernaut is greatly overdue and I don't much care where that action comes from. This is not a pleasant company and it's no coincidence that it has a stranglehold on the desktop market.

That is not the case, most websites actually use web standards nowadays so that is not the problem (anymore.) Also, Microsoft is not forcing websites to use shitty IE-standards, nor forcing people to use IE. I'd rather see more websites saying "f*** IE standards" making IE (more) shitty. Then people would choose another browser anyways.

No different in a country that has major corporate lobbying at all levels of govt, changing or stopping govt policy and lawmaking. None of those people were elected either but have far more power then many of the elected politicians but folks still call it a democracy.